Manchester City boss Mark Hughes may need all his persuasive powers to convince the club's owners to dip into the January transfer market.

The Mirror says Hughes is due to meet the club's new Abu Dhabi owners to outline plans for the transfer window.

He still needs a centre-forward, a left-back and an experienced keeper. But the Arabs may be reluctant to spend if they are off the pace for a Champions League place.

Hughes hinted at needing new faces, saying: "You have to look at the personnel we have. We are technically gifted but on occasions we need different qualities.

"We have not got the variety of players to be able to do that to any great extent."